Cherry Pie: nine ways to wear dark shades of red and purple

A red-purple hybrid: this is the shade that refuses to be left in the shade but is also not averse to throwing some — should the occasion call for it.

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025 - 01:00

Annmarie O’Connor

Glossy feminine energy: that’s the vibe for autumn 2025.

And what better way to convey the season’s confident yet naughty side than with a bite of dark cherry.

A red-purple hybrid: this is the shade that refuses to be left in the shade but is also not averse to throwing some — should the occasion call for it.

Get the picture? What’s more, it can imbue even the most conservative staples with a modicum of sass.

Max Mara led by example at Milan Fashion Week, and we took notes. Think blazers layered with parka-inspired gilets but with tights and stacked Mary Janes - all head-to-toe in the hue.

Looking to ace the aesthetic? Here’s what’s on the high street now.

Try Boden’s ‘Anita’ ponte shirtdress — structured to mean business, especially when worn with pointy patent slingbacks.

Speaking of which, these heels will work just as hard with Maje suit trousers. Pair with an unexpected shirt minidress from & Other Stories and play with proportions by adding a collared wool jacket from the brand.

Even the most ardent #cherrrycore adherent knows that, being Irish, something hooded and water-resistant is more our speed. Enter Essentiel Antwerp’s oversized raincoat.

Delivering on substance and style with its waist-cinching toggles and plentiful pockets; throw this on and be that stone cold fox on a grand soft day.

Of course, drama can be low key like a dark cherry neck scarf that does double time on ponytails or a matching suede handbag. As they say, it’s always the quiet ones.

GET THE LOOK:

A model walks the runway during the Max Mara collection show as part of the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 in Milan on February 27, 2025

1. GettyImages-2201579087 A model walks the runway during the Max Mara collection show as part of the Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 in Milan on February 27, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP) (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)